Massachusetts’ highest court ruled yesterday that gay couples have the right to marry under the state’s Constitution. In the 4-3 ruling, the state Supreme Court wrote that marriage is “among the most basic of every individual’s liberty and due-process rights.” Judges gave the state legislature six months to come up with a law making same-sex marriage possible. Vermont established civil unions for gay couples in 2000 but legal experts say the Massachusetts ruling goes a step further by clearly saying same-sex couples have the identical right to marriage as heterosexuals. The ruling could have major ramifications across the country. We’ll have more on the ruling later in the show.

Sierra Club Condemns House Energy Bill
On Capitol Hill, the House approved by a 246 to 180 vote a new energy bill that has been strongly condemned by Democrats and environmental groups. The Sierra Club describes the legislation as “one of the worst disasters for the environment, public health and consumers in years.” The Senate may vote as early as today. According to the Sierra Club, the bill will make oil and gas drilling the dominant use of federal public land. The Clean Air Act will be weakened. Oil and gas companies will be exempted from provisions of the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water Acts. And the coal and nuclear industries will be given billions in tax breaks. Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona said of the legislation, “It’s the leave-no-lobbyist-behind bill.”